Switch mechanism.



vFammi out. 24, |899.y

'.I. G. SCI-IBEUDEB.

SWITCH MEGHANISM.

(Application ildv Sept. l, 1699.)

(No Model.)

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Att'y.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCEe JENS G. SOHREUDER, OF EDGEVOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOv THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE,

PENNSYLVAN IA SWITCH MECHANISNI.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent 1\T o. 635,355, dated October 24, 1899.

Application filed September l, 1899. Serial No. 729,180. (No model.)

To all whom, vit may concern.:

Be it known that I, JENs G. SGHREUDEE, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which improvements the following is a speciication.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in switchoperating mechanism.

It is customary to arrange detector-bars alongside of the main rails adjacent to the switch-points and to so connect or interlock the mechanisms for operating the switchrails and detector-bar as to prevent the shift of the switch-rails without the prior operation of the detector-bar. Itis the general practice to so connect the detector-bar to the movement-plate employed for shifting switch-rails that the detector-bar is shifted before the movement-plate becomes operative to shift the switch-rails. Hence if the detector-bar is prevented from movement the switch-rails cannot be shift-ed. In such a construction a movement of the switch-rails would become possible in case of a breakage of the connection between the movement-plate and the detector-bar, and where the movement-plate is operated by fluid-pressure a breaking or rupture of this connection is liable to occur when a bar is on the detector-rail.

The object of the present invention is to provide independent mechanisms for operating the detector-bar and switch-rails and to render the operation of the switch-shifting mechanism absolutely dependent on the prior complete movement of the detectorbar.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 shows the switch-rails and detector-bars operated in accordance with my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification of my improvement.

In the practice of my invention the switchrails 1 maybe connected to the shifting mechanism in any desired manner, whereby the desired backand-forth movement of the switch-rails can be effected, and the detectorbar 2 is connected in any suitable manner to its operating mechanism. The switchoper ating mechanism is so interlocked with the detector-bar 2 by any suitable means as to render the movement of the switch-operating mechanism normally impossible without the prier complete movement of the detector-bar.

Vhile not limiting myself as regards the broad terms of the claim to the construction hereinafter particularly described, such construction illustrates a desirable embodiment of my invention.

The piston 3 of the fluid-pressure cylinder et is connected in any suitable manner to the detector-bar .f-as, for example, the pistonrod is connected to an arm 5 of the rock-shaft 6, which is also provided with an arm 7, connected by a rod 8 to the detector-bar, which may be of any desired form or construction. The flow of Huid-pressure to and from the cylinder may be controlled in any suitable manner, but preferably by electrically-controlled valve mechanisms 9 of the type shown and described in Letters Patent No. 358,521, dated March 1, 1887. The detector-bar 2 is connected by any suitable means to a sliding bar 10-as, for exam ple, by a lever 11 having one end connected to the detector-bar by a rod 12 and the other connected by a rod 13 to the slide. This slide is mounted in suitable guides on the valve-case of the fluid-pressure cylinder 14. Th valve 15, controlling the flow of fluid-pressure to and from the cylinder, may be of any desired form or type, and between the valve and slide are interposed suitable devices for shifting the former as the slide reaches the limits of its movements. In the construction shown a slide-valve is employed and said valve is provided with stems 16, projecting through the ends of the valve-case. Tappets 17 are so secured on the slide 10 as to strike and shift the valve only as the slide reaches the limits of its movements, so that only a complete movement of the detector-bar will shift the valve.

The piston-rod 1S is connected to a slide 19, having a pin so secured thereon in such position asr to strike the angularly-arranged arms 21 or 21L on one end of the lever 22, the opposite end of the lever being connected in IOO the usual manner to the switch-rails. As is customary, the slide 19 is locked in normal and reverse positions by a bar 23, adapted to be shifted by the switch-rails.

If desired, the cylinders 4 and 14 may be formed integral with each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

XVhen it is desired to shift the switch, fluidpressure is admitted to one end of the cylinder 4, thereby shifting the detector-bar, pro vided such bar is free to move. A complete movement of the detector-bar will so move the slide l0 as to shift the valve 15 as to admit fluid-pressure to the switch-cylinder 14, thereby shifting the switch. It will be observed that if for any reason the detector-bar is only partialiy shifted and either remains in such partially-shifted position or falls back to its original position the valve 15 of the switch-cylinder will not be affected. In case of a rupture of the connection between the detector-bar and the switch-operating mechanism the latter cannot operate until such connection is repaired.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the connection between the detector-bar and the lever 11 is made in two sections 12 12 and that the end of the section 12 is made of such a length as to permit of its forked end a being connected to the arm 7 on the shaft G. In case of the detector-bar being rendered inoperative for any cause the rod S is disconnected from the arm 7 and the latter connected to the section 12, thereby permitting of the operation of the switch independent of the detector-bar.

the detector-bar for shifting the valve of the fluid-pressure mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination ot' a detector-bar, means for shifting said bar, a fluid-pressure mechani-sm connected to the switch-rails, a slide adapted to shift the valve of the duid-pressure mechanism and connections from the slide to the detector-bar, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a detector-bar, mechanism for operating said bar, a switch-operating mechanism normally controlled by the detector-bar, and means whereby the detector-bar may be cut out and the switch-operating mechanism controlled by the mechanism normally employed for operating the detector-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

.TENS G. SCHREUDER. lVitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLoorT, M. S. MURPHY. 

